Elevated-railway system.



No. 759,792. PATENTED MAY 10, 1904.

P. E. WILSON. ELEVATED RAILWAY SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, 1903. N0 MODEL.

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PATENTED MAY l0 1904.

F. E. WILSON. ELEVATED RAILWAY SYSTEM.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG-18. 1903.

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"Dvi famous No.759,792.' PATENTED MAY 10, 1904. F. B. WILSON.

ELEVATED RAILWAY SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED ma ze, 1903. no MODEL. s sums-sum: a,

UNITED STATES Patented May 10, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

ELEVATED-RAILWAY SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,792, dated May 10,1904.

Application filed August 18, 1903. Serial No. 169,924. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK E. WrLsoN, a eitlzen of the United States,residing at L1th- 'opolis, in the county of Fairfield and State ofembodying tracks suspended between stationtowers disposed at intervalsfor reception of Gravity is the motive power by which the cars progressover the different lines of the system, which in the conte1nplation ofmy invention diverge in all directions from the station-towers, thetracks over which they travel being inclined so as to give each carsufficient impetus to cause it to move the distance intermediate saidstations, the speed of the rolling-stock depending of course upon theinclination of the track and the will of the operator thereof relativeto application of the brake means utilized for regulation of such speedand stoppage of the cars.

The invention further involves the provision of special means forelevating the cars to varied heights in the station -towers from whichthe lines extend preparatory to the start therefrom, the cars enteringthe said station at a lowermost point, perhaps the lowermost elevationof the inclined track, being then raised to depart from the station by atrack extending from a higher elevation thereon.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffectingthe result reference is to be had to the following descriptionand drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention aresusceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lis a perspective showing a plurality of station-towers and the relativedisposal of the inclined tracks connecting the same.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through one of the towers, showing theelevate r arranged therein for raising the cars from the elevation atwhich they enter the station to the point of elevation from which theydepart. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the elevator, showing therevolving carriers disposed thereon and a car in position upon the tracksuspended from the carriers. Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustratingmore particularly the manner of supporting the elevated tracks. Fig. 5is a plan view showing more clearly the positions of the tracks leadingfrom the station-towers in their preferred disposal. Fig. 6 is alongitudinal sectional view through a portion of the suspended cablecarrying the track-sections. Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of asection of the inclined track, also showing adjacent supporting-arms.Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the car-suspendingframework and the brake means carried thereby.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The system comprises a plurality of stationtowers 1, which are disposedat intervals along the lines of the system, being connected by inclinedtracks 2. The towers are preferably constructed of steel framework andare of such a height as to permit a sufficient inclination of the tracks52 to give the cars 3. sus* pended from the tracks, suliicient impetusto carry them from one station-tower to another. The towers are providedat different points in their height with platforms 4 for tratfic, andsuitable means of ingress and egress are also provided. Intermediate thetowers 1 are disposed supporting structures for the suspendedtracksfwhich consist of posts 5 of a height depending upon the height ofthe track, which posts are trussed by ordinary means, such ascross-braces or the like, to strengthen the same and afford a rigidityof structure necessary. Cross-bars 6 connect the upper ends of thesupporting-posts 5, and from the crossbars 6 depend T-shapedsupporting-arms 7, which are provided with vertical extensions 8, havingthe upper end portions thereof cmbracing the cables 9, which carry thetracks 10. The tracks 10 are made in sections secured to the cables anddisposed intermediate the vertical arms 8 of the members 7. The

' members 7 may be provided with openings to receive and support atelegraph or like wire 11, so that communication may be had with the caras the same traverses the various lines of the system.

Each of the main station-towers 1- is provided with an elevator 12,which moves in the shaft 13 and which is adapted to raise the cars 3from the lower elevation at which they enter the station to theelevation to which they depart, as before mentioned. The elevators 12may be of any preferred construction adapted for the purposes of thesystem and support revolving carriers 14:, which are designed toimmediately support the cars 3 while being elevated and at the same timerotating the said cars so that the same may depart from the station overa line extending in a different direction from that by which they enter.Certain cars will pass over certain lines of the system and are providedwith suitable matter indicative of the direction of the lines over whichthey pass, substantially the same as that used by the common carservicesystem, and such matter will serve to inform passengers which car totake in order to reach a desired point.

The revolving carrier 1 1 upon the elevator 12 consists of a platformdisposed beneath the elevator-platform and mounted relatively to thelatter so as to admit of a rotary movement. The carrier 14 is preferablyactuated by means of a lever 15 upon the elevator 12, which levercarries a toothed segment 16, in mesh with a gear 17 upon the carrier1 1. Operation of the lever 15 by the conductor upon the elevator willcause actuation of the carrier, which supports the cars, so that thelatter will be disposed inthe direction of the line over which it willdepart in leaving the station. From the carrier 14 dependsupporting-arms 7 of the same form as those provided upon theintermediate supporting structures located between the station-towers 1,and the arms 7 support a section of track 10 of a length suflieient toconnect the lines of track which terminate adjacent the elevator-shaftof each of the said towers. Each of the cars 3 is likewise provided witha supporting-framework, consisting of uprights 18 and cross-bars 19. Theuprights 18 are provided with wheels 20, which move over the track 10 asthe car traverses the line. In order to regulate the speed of the car,brake means of suitable character is employed, and the same consists ofthe pivoted brake-shoes 21, which are operated by the conductor of thecar, being connected to operating means carried within the car. Theshoes 21 are adapted for application to the wheels 20 1n a mannerreadily noted. If desirable, supplementary brake means in the shape of afriction-shoe 22 may be provided upon the upper portion of the frameworkof the car for direct application to the track 10. The last-mentionedbrake means would also be operable from the car in connection with theordinary means for applying brakes of this kind.

The cars 3 are cigar-shaped, for reasons which will be obvious.

To support the tracks 10 rigidly intermediate the supporting structures5 to prevent lateral separation of the said tracks, U-shapedspacingmembers 23 are used, the vertical arms of the latter beingsecured to the supportingcable 9 in the same manner as the arms 8 of theT-shaped members 7, which are connected thereto, and the sections of thetrack 10 are disposed intermediate these arms, as before described.

In the practical operation of the system the cars 3 depart from acertain tower-station 1 at a comparatively high elevation in the lengthof the inclined tracks 2, moving by gravity and gaining speed as theyadvance. The car after leaving one of the tower-stations traverses thedistance between the said station and the next station upon the lineover which it is moving. The distance between the stations will varyaccording to the character of the ground of the country over which thesystem is operated. The car enters the next station at a lowerelevation, because of the incline of the track 2,

and is stopped upon entering the station so that it is supported by thesection of tracks carried by the revolving carrier 14 of the elevator12. The passengers desiring to leave at this station alight as soon asthe car stops, and the said car is then raised to a higher elevation bythe elevator 12, at the same time being revolved by the carrier 14, sothat as it reaches the higher elevation it is ready to depart from thestation in a new direction. It will be understood that certain cars willcontinue in the same direction, so that the carrier in such instanceswould not be operated. Substations are provided at intervals in thelines of the system, if necessary, the main station-towers beingsituated at points having the greatest traffic, which in cities will befound at the different business centers. The cars when in thestation-towers are disposed adjacent the platforms 4: to permitpassengers to alight or enter the same.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In anelevated-railway system, the combination with station-towers, tracksconnecting the said towers, means for elevating cars within the towers,and independently-operable carriers supported by the elevating meansaforesaid.

2. In an elevated-railway system, the combination with station-towers,inclined tracks disposed intermediate the said towers and connectingsame at different points of elevation, means for elevating cars from oneelevation to another in the towers, and means for rotating the aforesaidelevating means.

3. In an elevated-railway system, the combination with station-towers,inclined tracks connecting the said towers at different points ofelevation and rotating elevators disposed within the station-towers forelevation and rotation of the cars to the different elevations at whichthe aforesaid tracks connect the stations.

4. In an elevated-railway system, the combination with station-towers,inclined lines of track connecting the said towers at different pointsof elevation, elevators arranged in the towers for transporting carsfrom one track to another within the station, and independent rotatingcarriers supported by the aforesaid elevators, and means for operationof the said carriers.

5. In an elevated-railway system, the combination with station-towers,inclined lines of track eonnecting the towers at different points ofelevation, elevators arranged within the station-towers for transportingcars from one elevation to another within the towers, rotating carrierssupported by the aforesaid elevators, and track-sections carried by theaforesaid carriers and adapted to connect the terininal of the inclinedlines of track connecting the stations.

6. In an elevated railway, the combination with station-towers, inclinedtracks connecting said towers at different points of elevation,elevators arranged within the towers for transporting cars from oneelevation to an other, rotating carriers supported by the saidelevators, sections of tracks disposed upon the carriers for connectingthe terminals of the inclined tracks connecting the stations, and meansfor independently operating the carriers aforesaid.

7. In an elevated-railway system, the combination with station-towers,supporting structures intermediate the towers and comprisingsnpporting-posts, cross-bars connecting the upper ends of said posts,supporting members of approximately T form dependingfrom the cross-barsaforesaid and provided with vertical extensions to embrace a supportingspaced cable, spacing members connecting said cable at intervals in thelength thereof and track-sections secured to the suspended cablesaforesaid.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK E. WILSON. [L s.]

Witnesses:

DONALD KRAMER, ERNEST TAES.

